Draco's nature (long!)

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 110464

SSSusan said:
>>> I think you're right that Draco is frightened of his father and
probably somewhat miserable, but I don't see how you can conclude
that his life has been *loveless*.<<<

Then Alla said:
>> Definitely Sussan. I am with you on this one too. Could anybody 
show me ONE example from the books where we can see or at least infer 
that Draco is not loved?<<

Now psyche:
> Firstly, Narcissa. We have so little information on her. I can only 
> think of 4 pieces:
> 1. Her name.
> 2. Her brief appearance at the QWC, where she did little but sneer.
> 3. The overheard conversation on the train, where Draco said that 
> he would have gone to Durmstrang but his mother wanted him close.
> 4. Her family tree - she's a Black.
> 
> All that 3. tells us, I think, is that she's a snob, and we could 
> have guessed that. Similarly, 4. gives us limited information, 
> because we know that in the Potterverse your genetics have limited 
> influence - Lily and Petunia are worlds apart. 2. is more 
> promising. We *might* infer from the fact that she wants him close 
> that she loves him. But I don't think that's a safe assumption. 
<Sorry for the major snippage after this!>

SSSusan:
I think you may have reversed 2 & 3 in your explanation here?  That 
is, it's 2 that shows she's a snob and 3 that might be more 
promising?  If I've got that right--well, whatever, for the "she 
wants him close" item--it seems at least as fair an assumption that 
it means she loves him as that she merely wants to control him.  It's 
definitely not a "given" that it's evidence Draco isn't loved.


Psyche:
> We can't be sure from the text whether Draco is doted on or 
> neglected at home, but I'm sure it's one or the other - IMO 
> probably both, with obsessive doting from Narcissa and neglect from 
> Lucius. He is missing all the signs of a child who has received 
> healthy parental love. Instead I get the impression of a child who 
> has been alternately spoilt and blamed, until he has no idea which 
> way is morally up.

SSSusan:
Yes, your assumptions about life w/ the Malfoys is exactly what I 
speculated originally--that Draco is frightened of his father yet 
spoiled by them both.  And I may be walking a fine line here, but I 
wasn't looking for whether or not Draco had been shown "healthy 
parental love"; I just said I wanted to see, in canon, where we can  
see that Draco's life has been "loveless."  It still seems a big 
leap, to me, to say he's not been loved.  

Siriusly Snapey Susan